3/1/2024 to 3/31/2024 | Bennett Spring State Park | Lebanon, MO
Bennett Spring State Park is known for family traditions. This year, the park will have its 100th anniversary, and throughout the year, cultural experiences will be shared with the public. During the month of March, the topic of quilting will be on display at the park’s nature center. The display will consist of the the Missouri State Parks Bicentennial Quilt, information about the Bicentennial Quilt, and information about two "Bennett Traditions" quilts.
The Missouri State Parks Bicentennial Quilt has quilt squares representing all Missouri state parks and historic sites and was made to commemorate the state's bicentennial in 2021. The quilt was created at Bennett Spring State Park with modern technology and the skills of park volunteer/campground host Vicky Harding, who pieced the squares together, and Missouri State Parks naturalist/resource interpreter Connie Weber, who did the quilting. Visitors will be able to see the quilt and flip through a three-ringed binder that provides an explanation of which square corresponds to which park, and a more detailed description of how the quilt was made.
The Bennett Traditions quilts were completed by volunteer Karen Jaegers and were used in educational programs at the nature center in 2021 and 2022. Appropriately, the first square completed on each of these quilts was that of a log cabin. The park was originally established in what was known as the town of Brice. As time passed, additional land was obtained, and it was common for pioneers to build or rent log cabin homes, such as the ones shown below. The log cabin quilt square is a reminder of this history of determination, hard work and family. Just like this first square, the other squares of the Bennett Traditions quilts represent traditions or items related to the park.
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| Source: Bennett Spring State Park historic archives | |
The display will feature a binder containing information and pictures related to the Bennett Traditions quilts and the corresponding programming. Instructions on how to quilt a certain Bennett Traditions square can be provided upon request. The quilts themselves will not be on display.
The display will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. It is free and open to the public, and there is no need to register.
Bennett Spring State Park will have its 100th anniversary celebration on Oct. 5, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. More information about the quilt display and the 100th anniversary event can be obtained by calling the park nature center at 417-532-3925.
Display times: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wednesday - Sunday
Bennett Spring State Park is located at:
Associated activities
- Interpretive Programs